St. Thomas Aquinas' Rocco Casullo Talks About 2011 Season on NHSCA Sports Hour

by Jeff Fisher
Florida High School Football Huddle

Rocco Casullo has big shoes to fill, and he talked about that on Sunday's NHSCA Sports Hour.

Spring practice began Monday for Casullo, who is getting ready for his first season as the head coach of national power St. Thomas Aquinas.  He talked about following in the footsteps of the legendary George Smith, who resigned earlier this year after leading the Raiders to six state titles and two "mythical" national titles.

The real test for Casullo will come in the first three weeks of the season when the Raiders play Alabama-power Prattville, Cypress Bay (2010 Florida semifinalist) and De La Salle (2010 California Champ) on back-to-back-to-back weekends.

My interview with Casullo will be posted later this week at www.artistfirst.com/nhsca.htm.

Here's a look at the 2011 St. Thomas Aquinas schedule...

8/27 - @ Prattville (AL)
9/9 - Cypress Bay
9/23 - De La Salle (CA)
9/30 - @ McArthur
10/6 - Miramar
10/14 - South Broward
10/21 - Nova
10/28 - @ Plantation
11/4 - Cooper City
11/11 - @Deerfield Beach

St. Thomas Aquinas and De La Salle Set to Meet on ESPN

by Jeff Fisher

Florida High School Football Huddle

They've been two of the best high school football programs in their respective states for a long time...now De La Salle (Concord, CA) and St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) will square-off on the field for bragging rights.  And, ESPN will be there to capture the action and give a national audience a look at the California/Florida bragging rights battle.

ESPN officials have announced they will televise the September 23rd match-up live on one of their networks.  Last year STA won Florida's 5A championship; De La Salle, which is riding a 25-game win streak, won California's Open Division title.

Of course that 25-game win streak doesn't hold a candle to the Spartans' national record 151-game win streak that was set between 1992-2003.

Maybe the only disappointment about the game is that long-time Raider head coach George Smith won't be guiding his team.  Smith announced earlier this year that he had decided to retire.  If the legendary Smith, who led Aquinas to six state titles, hadn't stepped-down, the game would have matched two of high school football's best.  De La Salle's Bob Ladouceur owns a 372-23-3 record since he took over in Concord in 1979.

"Playing a great program like St. Thomas Aquinas is a positive opportunity. Win or lose, they'll make us a better team. It should be an exciting game," said Ladouceur in a news release.

Former defensive coordinator Rocco Casullo will take over for Smith, but it was the former coach who spoke about the match-up in the ESPN news release saying "To have the chance to play a program like De La Salle is a great challenge for our program and to us a great thing for high school football in both states. It should be an outstanding game for both schools, both states and fans of high school football nationwide."

George Smith Retires as St. Thomas Aquinas Football Coach

by Jeff Fisher

Florida High School Football Huddle

The man who built St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale) into a Florida and national high school football power is stepping down after 34 years of coaching.

George Smith's number are mind boggling...a career record of 361-66 for an incredible winning percentage of .845, six state championships and two "mythical" national championships.  Then there are the hundred of kids he sent into the college ranks, plus 30 former players who made it to the NFL.

The school has announced that defensive coordinator Rocco Casullo is the Raiders new head coach.

St. Thomas Aquinas Tapped by USA Today as #1 Team in the Nation

by Jeff Fisher
Florida High School Football Huddle

No matter how things change in high school football football, some things just remain the same...like the teams in the USA Today Super 25 rankings.

2008 mythical national champ St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) is the pre-season pick at #1 according to the paper that's been ranking high school football teams since 1982. Eleven teams that finished in the final Super 25 Poll in 2008 are ranked in this season's first poll.

The only other Florida team in the Super 25 is Miami Northwestern.

If you want to check out a complete list of every national champ since 1982, the Alabama High School Football Historical Society has done a great job of compiling the list.

Here's a look at the rankings:

1. St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) 15-0
2. Byrnes (SC) 14-1
3. Katy (TX) 13-3
4. Elder (OH) 13-2
5. Don Bosco Prep (NJ) 11-1
6. Northwestern (FL) 13-2
7. Oaks Christian (CA) 14-0
8. Oscar Smith (VA) 15-0
9. Centennial (AZ) 14-0
10. East St. Louis (IL) 13-1
11. Camden County (GA) 15-0
12. Allen (TX) 15-1
13. Colerain (OH) 11-2
14. De La Salle (CA) 12-2
15. Stony Point (TX) 13-2
16. Lowndes (GA) 12-1
17. Cedar Hill (TX) 12-2
18. Union (OK) 13-1
19. Maine South (IL) 14-0
20. Liberty (PA) 15-1
21. Prattville (AL) 13-1
22. Madison Central (WI) 12-2
23. St. Bonaventure (CA) 14-1
24. Skyline (WA) 14-0
25. DeMatha (MD) 10-2

For news from around America, go to The High School Football Huddle.

St. Thomas Aquinas Leads Pack of Florida Teams in National Prep Polls

by Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

When I first began my television career back in the early 90s, I remember the excitement that ran through the Allentown Central Catholic football program when the Vikings were ranked by USA Today. Yes, back in 1993, the Super 25 meant something...even if it didn't truly mean anything, because...well you know why!

Now, every major media outlet is in on the act. However, I still like USA Today the best, because they've been doing it since 1982.

Tradition means something at The High School Football Huddle!

So with all that being said, let's look at the first couple of polls to be released...ESPN Rise's Fab 50 and Prep Nation. USA Today will release it's Super 25 later.

At least for the pre-season polls, ESPN and Prep Nation are in agreement on #1 and #2. Both polls have the "defending" national champs, St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) at the top spot to start the season. The Raiders are followed by Byrnes (Duncan, SC). If all goes according to plan, the Raiders and Rebels will collide on October 2nd in Florida in a nationally-televised game.

There's no surprise when it comes to which states standout in both polls. Texas leads the Prep Nation Poll with four teams in the Top 25, Florida and California landed three teams in the National Prep Football Poll. The State of Washington is smiling with Bellevue and Skyline cracking the Top 10 in the National Prep Football Poll.

In the ESPN Rise Fab 50...California, Florida and Texas each landed seven teams in the Top 50.

Let's start with the National Prep Football Poll, which is America's second oldest weekly poll produced by Jamie DeMoney, who does a great job of keeping fans up-to-date. Below you can learn more about PrepNation.com.

Prep Nation's National Football Poll

1. St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) 15-0
2. Byrnes (Duncan, SC) 14-1
3. Northwestern (Miami, FL) 13-2
4. Katy (TX) 13-3
5. Glenville (Cleveland, OH) 11-1
6. Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, VA) 15-0
7. Lakewood (CA) 10-3
8. Bellevue (WA) 14-0
9. Skyline (Sammamish, WA) 14-0
10. Cedar Hill (TX) 12-2
11. Lowndes (Valdosta, GA) 12-1
12. Jenks (OK) 12-2
13. Elder (Cincinnati, OH) 13-2
14. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NJ) 11-1
15. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, CA) 14-0
16. Allen (TX) 15-1
17. Lakeland (FL) 14-1
18. De La Salle (Concord, CA) 12-2
19. Prattville (AL) 13-1
20. Liberty (Bethlehem, PA) 15-1
21. Centennial (Peoria, AZ) 14-0
22. Skyline (Dallas, TX) 12-2
23. Independence (Charlotte, NC) 13-1
24. DeMatha (Hyattsville, MD) 10-2
25. John Curtis (River Ridge, LA) 14-1

About the National Prep Poll: Compiled weekly weekly since 1987 and distributed by World Features Syndicate and the Associated Press, the National Prep Poll is the nation's second oldest weekly high school sports rankings. Doug Huff of ESPN RISE compiled the rankings from 1987 until 1999. Jamie DeMoney has compiled the poll since the start of the 1999 basketball season. The National Prep Poll is the only high school poll distributed to newspapers and Web sites around the United States by the Associated Press national wire service. The National Prep Poll is the first high school football and boys basketball poll to released in the preseason and during each week of the regular season. Criteria considered for the National Prep Poll rankings are strength of schedule, the ability to accomplish the ultimate goal on a team's schedule (i.e. winning a championship), impact players and performers, a team's coaching and recent tradition.

Jamie DeMoney begins his 10th year compiling the World Features Syndicate/Associated Press National Prep Poll. He has covered high school sports and recruiting for more than 15 years and compiled the National Prep Poll since 1999. DeMoney has also compiled high school football and basketball rankings for Sporting News, School Sports, and RISE. DeMoney was managing editor of American Football Monthly and assistant national editor of All-Stater Sports/Highwired Sports. DeMoney is a graduate of the University of Iowa School of Journalism, and a member of the Football Writers Association of America and the United States Basketball Writers Association.

ESPN's Fab 50 looks like this...

1. St. Thomas Aquinas (FL)
2. Byrnes (SC)
3. Elder (OH)
4. Katy (TX)
5. Northwestern (FL)
6. Oaks Christian (CA)
7. Allen (TX)
8. Oscar Smith (VA)
9. Skyline (WA)
10. Prattville (AL)
11. Lowndes (GA)
12. Cedar Hill (TX)
13. Union (OK)
14. Centennial (AZ)
15. Lakeland (FL)
16. St. Bonaventure (CA)
17. Longview (TX)
18. Don Bosco Prep (NJ)
19. Glenville (OH)
20. Bellevue (WA)
21. DeMatha (MD)
22. North Shore (TX)
23. East St. Louis (IL)
24. De La Salle (CA)
25. Dwyer (FL)
26. Hinsdale Central (IL)
27. West Monroe (LA)
28. Miami Central (FL)
29. Orange Lutheran (CA)
30. Colerain (OH)
31. Notre Dame Prep (CA)
32. John Curtis (LA)
33. Camden County (GA)
34. Highlands (KY)
35. Bishop McDevitt (PA)
36. De La Salle Collegiate (MI)
37. St. Ignatius (OH)
38. Hamilton (AZ)
39. Stony Point (TX)
40. Bolles School (FL)
41. Grant (CA)
42. Long Beach Poly (CA)
43. Trinity (KY)
44. Jenks (OK)
45. Southlake Carroll (TX)
46. Mullen (CO)
47. Liberty (PA)
48. Pahokee (FL)
49. Skyline (TX)
50. Shiloh Christian (AR)

Florida High School Football Scoreboard - Week 7

By Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

How good is St. Thomas Aquinas? Just ask the former #1 6A team in the state of Florida. Friday night before a national television audience, STA dismantled Deerfield Beach 65-10. The Raiders entered the game ranked #1 in the National Prep Poll and #4 in the USA Today Super 25.

Click here for a game recap from the Miami Herald.

Florida High School Football Scores
Friday, October 17, 2008

USA Today Super 25
#4 St. Thomas Aquinas 65 Deerfield Beach 10
#11 Madison County 20 Bartram Trail 10


Academy at the Lakes 50, Carrollwood Day 0
Andrew Jackson 28, Ed White 0
Apopka 27, Winter Park 14
Astronaut 21, Merritt Island 14
Atlantic Community 43, West Boca Raton Community 0
Avon Park 40, LaBelle 0
Baldwin 39, Creekside 7
Bayside 36, Satellite 7
Bell 20, Branford 19
Bishop McLaughlin 56, Leesburg The First Academy 7
Bishop Verot 42, St. John Neumann 6
Blanche Ely 48, Coral Glades 6
Blountstown 31, Northview 13
Bolles School 48, Keystone Heights 7
Boone 40, Orlando University 7
Bozeman School 40, Holmes County 0
Braden River 37, North Port 0
Bradenton Prep 34, Calvary Christian 7
Cape Coral 54, Estero 0
Cardinal Gibbons 42, Taravella 28
Charlotte 37, North Fort Myers 17
Choctawhatchee 45, South Walton 14
Clearwater 29, Pinellas Park 0
Clearwater Central Catholic 35, St. Petersburg Catholic 34
Cocoa 49, Cocoa Beach 22
Coconut Creek 7, Stranahan 0
Countryside 21, Boca Ciega 6
Crystal River 24, Mount Dora 21
Deltona 48, Martin County 14
Deltona Trinity Christian 57, Ormond Beach Calvary Christian 16
DeSoto County 56, Bayshore 37
Dillard 53, Monarch 7
Dixie County 28, Hamilton County 0
Douglas 49, Fort Lauderdale 16
Dr. Phillips 27, Olympia 19
Dunbar 21, Fort Myers 15
Dunedin 17, Tarpon Springs 11
Dwyer 38, Palm Beach Lakes 7
Eagle's View 20, Arlington Country Day 10
East Ridge 35, Eustis 7
Eau Gallie 43, Rockledge 17
Edgewater 41, Hagerty 7
Evangelical Christian 56, Admiral Farragut 17
Everglades 14, South Plantation 10
Fernandina Beach 20, West Nassau County 0
First Coast 55, Mandarin 27
Fletcher 27, Forrest 21
Florida 30, Rutherford 23
Florida Air Academy 35, St. Andrew's 14
Fort Lauderdale University 14, Ransom Everglades 10
Fort Meade 30, Bartow 0
Fort Pierce Westwood 55, Port St. Lucie 7
Fort White 24, P.K. Yonge 6
Frostproof 58, Tenoroc 6
Gainesville 19, North Marion 17
George Jenkins 21, Kathleen 14
Godby 41, Chiles 0
Gulf Coast 55, Golden Gate 21
Gulliver Prep 50, Zephyrhills 6
Hilliard 27, Ponte Vedra 0
Holy Trinity Episcopal 44, St. Edward's 10
Immokalee 35, Palmetto Ridge 0
Jay 22, Freeport 16
Jones 36, Bishop Moore 35
Jupiter Christian 41, John Carroll Catholic 27
King's Academy 24, Benjamin 9
Kissimmee Osceola 21, New Smyrna Beach 0
Lake Brantley 41, Oviedo 13
Lake Gibson 42, Auburndale 7
Lake Highland 22, Harmony 19
Lake Mary 36, Lake Howell 7
Lake Mary Prep def. Temple Christian
Lake Wales 39, Lake Region 13
Lake Weir 40, Umatilla 6
Lakewood 32, Largo 24
Leesburg 31, Lecanto 3
Lely 34, Bay Point 14
Lemon Bay 22, East Lee County 21
Leon 30, North Florida Christian 18
Lighthouse Christian 42, Mandarin Christian 0
Lincoln 17, East Gadsden 14
Madison County 20, Bartram Trail 10
Mainland 37, Ocala Trinity Catholic 14
Manatee 52, Sarasota Riverview 20
Marathon 49, Florida Christian 7
Marianna 48, Chipley 7
Mariner 37, Port Charlotte 21
Melbourne Central Catholic 14, Liberty 7
Miami Belen Jesuit Prep 37, Cardinal Newman 0
Miami Sunset 21, Miami 3
Middleburg 18, Menendez 17
Milton 37, Gulf Breeze 10
Mosley 28, Crestview 21
Naples 42, Barron Collier 28
Newberry 33, Dunnellon 9
Niceville 56, Pace 41
North Broward 54, Westminster Academy 13
Nova 29, Cooper City 26
Oak Hall 59, St. Johns Country Day 7
Oak Ridge 13, Colonial 0
Orange Park 13, Columbia 10
Orlando Freedom 41, Wekiva 31
Orlando Lutheran 42, Oviedo Master's Academy 0
Orlando The First Academy 41, Father Lopez Catholic 15
Palm Beach Central 23, John I. Leonard 12
Palm Beach Gardens 29, Wellington 7
Palm Harbor University 21, Seminole Osceola 7
Palmetto 30, Cardinal Mooney 7
Park Vista Community 34, Olympic Heights 13
Paxon 38, Stanton College Prep 35
Pine Castle Christian 32, All Saints 14
Pine Ridge 26, DeLand 20
Plantation American Heritage 38, Key West 13
Pope John Paul II 26, Spanish River 12
Port St. Joe 27, Liberty County 13
Providence 52, Bishop Snyder 13
R.E. Lee 36, Raines 27
Ribault 27, Bradford 6
Rickards 12, FAMU Developmental Research 6
Ridge Community 28, Mulberry 21
Ridgeview 29, Clay 17
Riverdale 27, Lehigh 0
Royal Palm Beach 19, Boynton Beach 12
Seminole Ridge 28, Suncoast 12
Shorecrest Prep 35, Lakeland Christian 14
South Broward 32, Piper 20
South Fort Myers 28, Ida S. Baker 0
Southeast 20, Booker 13
Space Coast 38, Melbourne 28
St. Augustine 24, Nease 17
St. Cloud 52, Gateway 34
St. Petersburg Northeast 26, East Lake 10
Tampa Catholic 33, Trinity Christian-Jacksonville 21
Tavares 49, Citrus 42
Taylor 34, St. Joseph Academy 28
Terry Parker 34, Sandalwood 19
The Villages 24, Celebration 14
Titusville 55, Viera 0
Treasure Coast 19, Fort Pierce Central 0
Vero Beach 38, South Fork 14
Victory Christian 63, Central Florida Christian 6
Walton 28, Baker School 22
Warner Christian 49, Cambridge Christian 0
Winter Haven 13, Haines City 0
Winter Springs 23, Lyman 3
Wolfson 48, Port Orange Atlantic 6
Yulee 7, Interlachen 0

Osceola Running Back Ties Record But Falls Short of Title Goal

By Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

Osceola running back Kwamaine "Bubba" Brown scored two touchdowns to tie the state's single-season touchdown record of 44, but it wasn't enough as St. Thomas Aquinas beat the Kowboys 35-20 for Florida's 5A high school football championship.

Brown, who did set a new state scoring record with 278-points, finished the game with 172-yards. Osceola played the title game without its senior quarterback T'Sharvan Bell, who sat out with a knee injury. Earlier in the week, Bell verbally committed to Auburn.

St. Thomas Aquinas had finished runner-up to Lakeland in the last three 5A title games.

Click here to read a complete game wrap.

Trip to State Final...Not So Far For Two Orlando Area Teams

By Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

Boone and Osceola won't have very far to travel for their Florida high school football championship games this weekend in Orlando. That's because both schools are from the Orlando area.

Boone will play Miami Northwestern, the nation's #1 team according to USA Today, for the 6A title, while Kissimmee Osceola plays St. Thomas Aquinas from Fort Lauderdale for the 5A championship.

St. Thomas Aquinas will be playing in its 11th state title game since 1991. The Raiders won state titles in 1992, 1997 and 1999 and have finished runner-up in the last three 5A title games to Lakeland.

Osceola running back Kwamaine "Bubba" Brown will have a chance to make state history. Brown needs three TDs Friday to break the state's single-season touchdown record of 42, which is currently held by Antone Smith (Pahokee) and Sean Taylor (Miami Gulliver Prep), the NFL safety who died from a gunshot wound November 26th during a robbery attempt at his home.

To read how the two Orlando school are approaching their practice week, click here.